England flanker Mike Rafter was an inspirational skipper to both Bristol and Gloucestershire, with his pace and creative spark making him a cult hero among fans.

Rafter made his England debut in a 26-6 win over Scotland in 1977 and was a member of England's squad as they completed a Grand Slam in 1980. Rafter's England career was brief, and he won his final cap on tour to Argentina in 1981, being awarded Man of the Match in both Tests.

Despite the disappointment of being dropped by England, Rafter entered into one of his most successful seasons with Bristol as he captained them to the 1983 English Cup after defeating Leicester 28-22.

Rafter retired in 1985 after sustaining a hamstring injury and taking a season off from the game. He acquired his coaching badges whilst still a player and entered into a coaching career with Bedford and Gloucestershire among others. In 2008 he was appointed as a RFU citing officer.